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Executive summary

It is my pleasure to present the Annual Report of the Liquor Commission of Western Australia for the year ended 30 June 2020. During the year in review, 29 new applications were lodged with the Liquor Commission and 7 applications were carried over from 2018-19. As at 30 June 2020, the Commission had determined 22 applications, 5 applications were discontinued, 3 applications were adjourned sine die and 6 applications were carried over to 2020-21.

It is with great sadness that I advise that we have lost four of our Commissioners during the year.

Wendy Hughes was appointed as a Magistrate in the Children’s Court of Western Australia in February. This is a recognition of Wendy’s outstanding abilities as a lawyer and is a tremendous achievement for someone so young. I wish Wendy all the best in her role and thank her for her contribution to the Commission.

Mara Barone SC was appointed as a Judge of the District Court of Western Australia in May. I greatly appreciated the work that Mara has done over the time that she has been a member of the Commission and wish her well on behalf of all of us in her demanding role.

Mara and Wendy join fellow former members of the Commission as judicial officers: Judge Belinda Lonsdale and Magistrate Evan Shackleton. These appointments reflect well on the Commission and show the calibre of its membership Eddie Watling retired on 30 June 2020.

Eddie has been deputy chairman for a number of years and his contribution to the Commission over 12 years has been enormous. From a personal perspective, his advice and assistance has been of tremendous help. I will miss his sage advice and good humour. Eric Isaachsen also retired on 30 June 2020.

Eric has been on the Commission for many years and had provided valuable service to the Commission and been a great source of advice for me as Chairman. I will miss Eric’s quiet and understated manner of dealing with matters and thank him for his long contribution to the Commission.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members for their contribution to the effective operation of the Commission throughout the year, as well as staff from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for their ongoing support.

Seamus Rafferty
Chairperson